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Hotter, drier weather predicted for much of Qld

The report says the Great Barrier Reef will be impacted by increasing acidification and warming of the ocean due to more carbon in the atmosphere.

Ho New: Reuters

A Queensland Government report on climate change predicts temperature rises of up to 2.2 degrees Celsius over the next 40 years.

It also predicts rainfall will decrease by up to 5 per cent in the south-east and up to 7 per cent in central Queensland.

Sustainability Minister Kate Jones has told Parliament the last decade was the warmest on record.

"The report tells us that Queensland is getting hotter, sea levels are expected to continue to rise, and the impacts of extreme weather events will increase," she said.

"Of particular concern is advice that our iconic Great Barrier Reef will be impacted by increasing acidification and warming of the ocean due to more carbon in the atmosphere.

"This means greater threats to the unique corals of the reef because as the water gets more acid, coral growth is reduced and as it warms it encourages the kind of algae which blocks essential light to coral."